Bongbong Marcos, ex-President Joseph Estrada visit wake of Nora Aunor
LIVE UPDATES: Remembering Nora Aunor, Superstar and National Artist
President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos visits the wake of National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Nora Aunor late Monday, April 21, 2025. photo by Jonathan Cellona / PPA POOL
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.and former President Joseph Estrada on Monday night paid their last respects to veteran actress and National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Nora Aunor on the fifth and last day of her wake.
Marcos, accompanied by First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, arrived at The Heritage Park in Taguig at 6 PM Monday, and they were welcomed by Tirso Cruz III, Aunor’s former love team and Marcos’ former chair of Film Development Council of the Philippines (FCDP).
President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos visits the wake of National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Nora Aunor late Monday, April 21, 2025. photo by Jonathan Cellona / PPA POOL
The President and the First Lady were received by Aunor’s children Ian and Matet de Leon. They stayed for an hour offering their condolences to the late Superstar’s family.
Aside from Cruz, other celebrities were with the Marcoses, among them singer-politician Imelda Papin, and Celia Rodriguez.
Erap and Ate Guy
Meanwhile, former President Joseph Estrada and son Senator Jinggoy Estrada were also among those who paid their respects to the late National Artist on the last day of her wake.
Former President Joseph Erap Estrada, accompanied by his sons Senator Jinggoy Estrada (right) and Jude Estrada
Estrada, a former actor before he was a politician, was one of Aunor’s friends. Two also made a few films together, namely, “Mga Mata ni Angelita,” “Bakya Mo Neneng,” and “Erap is My Guy.”
They had a falling out when Aunor joined calls to oust him from Malacañang in 2001 in Edsa.
Aunor, then accompanied by the group Bayan, held a press conference urging her friend Estrada to resign from his post, before proceeding to the EDSA Shrine where a large group of protesters was amassing.
Aunor later on asked for Estrada’s forgiveness, though the former president was later on convicted for plunder.
In a statement following her death on April 16, Estrada said Aunor’s shining legacy will forever remain in the hearts of every Filipino for her contributions to the film industry. He said her brilliance will never fade.
“Malalim ang pinagsamahan namin kaya’t mabigat tanggapin ang balita ng kanyang pagpanaw… Isinabuhay niya ang pag-asa sa mga taong nagsusumikap abutin ang kanilang pangarap gamit ang puhunan na angking galing sa pag-awit at husay sa pag-arte sa harap ng kamera,” he said.
‘Gift’
Marcos, in a statement issued last Thursday or a day after Aunor’s death, said: “Her golden voice was a balm for all. Her genius was a gift to the Filipino nation.”
“I join the nation in mourning the passing of our National Artist for Film, Nora Aunor (Nora Cabaltera Villamayor in real life). Throughout her splendid career that spanned more than 50 years, she was our consummate actress, singer, and film producer,” he said.
“I offer my heartfelt condolences to Nora Aunor’s family, friends, and the film industry itself. Let us pray together for the eternal repose of the soul of our beloved National Artist,” he further said.
Aunor died of acute respiratory failure on April 16, according to her son, Ian de Leon.
The life and legacy of Aunor will be honored in a state necrological service at the Metropolitan Theater, before capping off with her funeral rites at the Libingan ng mga Bayani on Tuesday.
